‘The salon owner who is able to create conditions that foster loyalty will be presented with countless opportunities.”

 

As I travel the country I am always asked how I can improve staff performance and productivity. Establishing strong work habits and positive attitudes within your salon is a major challenge to salon owners.

Many of these attitudes were probably formed by other salons or at many of our beauty schools. Most salons fail from within. A house divided will make it difficult to promote a positive and professional salon  environment where team work and a happy team can prosper together.

Developing a team that shares your values, goals, and team concept can be very challenging, especially when you are trying to grow your business. You may ask the question why is so difficult to overcome these challenges? There are many reasons.

Sometimes you as leader of your team also need to look at yourself and ask the question, what have I done to earn the trust and loyalty of my team. Was I careful to hire the best candidate to add to my team? Where they compatible with my other team members? Do I have a staff development program in place? Have I developed my leadership skills to earn my team’s loyalty and trust? Did I create a climate of trust, not fear?

These are just a few of the questions salon owners must as yourselfif you are to improve the performance and productivity of your team.

The following tips will help you improve your team.

Loyalty —   create conditions that foster trust and loyalty. Work hard to educate and take your team to higher levels of productivity. You have to earn the trust and loyalty of your team.

Expectations — how can you expect your staff to perform if they do not know your expectations and how your expectations will be measured? Clearly define your expectations. Your employee hand book would be a start.

Incentives — make their jobs fun and rewarding. Work hard to keep them busy, offer praise and incentives, sometimes a little pat on the back for a job well done can be effective.

Education and Training — invest in educating your team,your job as leader is to help them reach higher levels of excellence. Give them the educational tools to help them grow. Click here.

Evaluations –— periodically have a one on one evaluation of their performance. Hairdressers want to know how well their performing.

Mentoring — let them know you care, keep lines of communication open at all times. Let them know your door is always open.

Managing your team will require strong leadership skills on your behalf, I have created some learning tools to help you address the above challenges  for each member of your team that will be a tremendous help in your efforts to grow your salon and your team, check out!

Until changes are made in education it will be your responsibility to take your team to the next level.